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8.29.2011

Something has been irking me for days, weeks even and I've just got to get it off my chest.

Fix your damn pets already, people.

I'm so over the poor excuses. "Well, it's mean." Actually, it's not mean. It helps lessen their aggression and can sometimes lower their anxiety as they won't feel the strong urge to compete with other same-sex animals in the home. Do you know what IS mean? Not spaying or neutering your animal and then trying to diaper the poor thing, make it live outside for it's entire spraying spell or letting it knock up some other completely irresponsible jackass' unfixed animal. (Yup, I went there).

And I'm even more annoyed with the "But I can't afford it" crap. Seriously? Do you know what you REALLY can't afford? That animal of yours having an entire litter and then your trying to pawn all of its babies off on your family members (or worse, the infamous 'free to good home' on Craigslist). There are a bajillion low cost spay/neuter clinics all over the United States, so if you can't come up with the cash for this then maybe you should forego getting a LIVING BEING that requires regular food, water and sometimes veterinary care.

And I'm not sure I should even go here, but if you're still really trying to "breed" your super awesome purebred dog you're just lame. With an average of four million animals being euthanized every year, I think you can shelf the "purebred" (aka need to earn a few thousand bucks) garbage and do us all a favor and fix your damn animals. Chances are we can find your "one of a kind" husky at thousands of shelters across the world. Thanks though.

In a perfect vegan world, we wouldn't need to spay and neuter animals because we wouldn't need to own them. But this isn't a perfect world, let alone a perfect vegan one, so that unfortunately can't be. So while we're trying to find a way to coexist in this mixed up world, spaying/neutering (while it can feel like we're infringing on the animals' rights) is one of the most vegan things we can do. (And don't you try to argue with me. Not spaying and letting a million animals be created to become strays or science experiments CERTAINLY isn't more vegan, so hush).

This rant has been brought to you by an Angry Chubby Vegan Mom. One-third more filling than the average skinny vegan mom.

8.26.2011

When I was growing up my mom used to make this dish called "Johnny Marzetti."

Now, I don't have a clue who Johnny Marzetti is, but I do know WHAT it is.

It's a delicious tomato-based pasta bake that is probably one of the easiest, but homiest meals you can make on the fly.

The best part?

It only takes four ingredients! Seriously, only four!

Without further ado, make this awesome dish and proceed to watch everyone go back for seconds.

Johnny Marzetti
(serves 6-8)Ingredients:
2/3 box of any kind of pasta your heart desires, we used rigatoni because they trap all the ooey marzetti goodness in the middle (a regular size one, I think they're like 12 or 14 ounces).
1 28 oz can of tomato puree (not paste, not sauce, not diced, PUREE, this is vital)
1 package of Lightlife ground "beef" (one of the rare occasions we use fake meat)
1/2 bag Daiya cheddar cheese

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375.
Boil your pasta for 10 minutes.
Drain pasta and mix in tomato puree and ground "beef."
Pour into a 9X9 baking dish and top with Daiya.
Bake on 375 for 30 minutes (we always broil it for about 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese and get that crispy pasta bake goodness).

Chubby Vegan Mom is not accountable for the copious amount of Johnny Marzetti you might be possessed to consume.

Vikki said her husband isn't a big fan of cooking, so she's usually the one making the meals. She's been vegan for two years and is always on the lookout for more vegan recipes.

Congrats Vikki!

I'll contact you later to get mailing details!

Not a winner this week? Fear not Chubby Vegan Mom fans, there will be another giveaway next month! Be on the lookout next week for an announcement regarding the next AWESOME contest and what you can do to win!

Last week I provided you with tips on five super fabulous things to do before the summer ended.

Well, judging by the fact that I now have to go 20mph when driving through school zones, I'm guessing that summer is officially over.

So now that we're all juggling work, school and afterschool activities now, I'm going to suggest Five Fabulous Friday things you can do around your house.

No. 1) Spend a night in with the family. Whether you're playing board games or watching movies, hanging out and recharging for the weekend can be essential every now and then. Gather the kids and spouse and check out that family movie you've been wanting see (or at least the kids have) and lounge around in your pajamas. The work and school week is stressful enough, there is absolutely nothing wrong with spending a night in.

No. 2) Camp in your living room! Who wants to deal with the steamy August heat? Grab your kids' sleeping bags (and you're own if you're adventurous)! Camping out in the living room is great way to spend time with your family and get away from everyday distractions. And in camping fashion, there will be no television allowed! Tell scary stories and eat vegan beanies and weanies! And remember, you can always crash on the couch if you're worried about what sleeping on the floor will do to your back!

No. 3) Give your four-legged family member some love. Don't have one? Consider adopting if you're in the market for a furry friend or at least take the time to talk to your children about the responsibilities of living with an animal. Ask what animals your children like and if they're afraid of any. Many families bring a four-legged friend into the home before really talking with their children about what they actually want or feel they could be responsible for!

No. 4) Cook dinner together! Even our 15-month-old daughter helps us around the kitchen. Whether it's adding the veggies we just diced to a pot or helping place the toppings on our homemade pizzas, involving kids in the kitchen is a great way to bond as a family and an even better opportunity to talk about healthy eating habbits!

No. 5) Have a board game, Wii or activity night. My husband and I will turn the Nintendo Wii on every so often and get our daughter involved in some crazy game of jumping around and dancing with some video game. Or if you're old fashioned and your children have the attention span of more than a 15 month old, pull out a board game and play something fun. It teaches your children how to share, take turns and win and lose gracefully. Not to mention it's 100% free fun!

8.25.2011

For nearly two years I've been eyeing this bottle of agave syrup vegan caramel at the health food store. It looks delicious and at more than $1 an ounce, I have yet to buy it.

Until now.

I was having a serious craving for turtle candy brownies, you know, chocolate brownies with pecans and caramel. (Maybe you haven't had those before, only those with the sweetest of sweet tooth have). So after reading some stellar reviews about FunFresh Foods vegan agave syrup caramel, my crazy craving won out and I bought the darn stuff.

And I tell you what, these brownies (and well, probably air), would taste better with this caramel on it.

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350.
Grease an 8x8 pan.
Blend flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Mix in sugar, oil, vanilla extract and the mashed up banana. Add chopped pecans. Mix until thick with a sandy-like texture.
Pour brownie batter into the pan. Top with caramel syrup (to taste, but don't put too much or it'll make the brownies soupy). Take a knife and swirl the caramel into the brownie mix.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Share with friends or you'll eat them ALL.

Since going vegan back in 2007, I haven't had to search long for a good vegan burger. And considering my idea of cooking vegan was heating up a Boca Spicy Chicken pattie (seriously good), I ate my fair share of premade burgers. Although I most definitely have to give a shout-out to Luna Burgers, made in good ole Columbus, Ohio, which are hands down, THE BEST store-bought vegan burger I've had in my life. While you can only buy them at stores in Ohio and Kentucky, if you don't live in one of these two fine states you can do yourself a big favor and hop on their web site and have some shipped to you. (You can thank me later).

Finally about six months ago I decided to try my hand at making burgers. So far, I'm not very good. Don't get me wrong - the burgers taste great - they just don't hold up the way I'd like them to.

But these Totally worth-it white bean sliders are no joke. They have a texture reminiscent of a crab cake (crispy on the outside, flaky and fabulous on the inside) but they're made from cannellini beans and in mini-burger form they actually stay together pretty well.

Directions:
Dice up the onions, carrots and potatoes.
Splash some oil in a saute pan and cook cannellini beans, diced onions, carrots and potatoes for 15 minutes on medium heat.
Let the bean-veggie mixture cool for 10 minutes and then mash beans, onions, carrots, potatoes, pepper relish, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl. (You can try a food processor, but it's really easy to overblend this mixture and if it gets too thin it won't work).
Mix in panko bread crumbs (1 cup should be enough, but if you'd like a little crispier texture in the middle add more).
Next, pour 1/2 inch of oil into a saute pan on medium heat. Let the oil get hot.
Roll the bean mixture into a ball the size of a tangerine and then smush into pattie form.
Cook 4-6 at a time (depending on the size of your skillet) for 3 minutes on each side (or until light brown and crispy).
Let the burgers cool on a plate covered with a towel or paper towels for five minutes.
Add to your favorite mini bun (we used rolls) and enjoy with your favorite burger toppings!

8.24.2011

OK. So this recipe isn't exactly for actual cabbage rolls, because here's the thing. I don't know how many of you have ever made said cabbage rolls (carnivorous OR vegan kinds), but they're a SERIOUS pain in the butt. Between the actual stuffing and rolling of them, not to mention taking the toothpicks out when they're done (or remembering to buy non-colored toothpicks because the dye leaks ALL OVER the place), cabbage rolls are so not worth the work to me.

Don't get me wrong, though.

Cabbage rolls, albeit arduous, are seriously delicious. So what's a gal to do when she wants something yummy, but has absolutely no desire to go through the drama (because clearly, cabbage rolls are loaded with drama)?

Just make my cabbage roll skillet aka ...

Cabbage rolls for dummies
(serves 6-8)Ingredients:
1 head of cabbage
1 32oz can of diced tomatoes (I use the fire-roasted kind, because what isn't better with fire?)
1 diced onions
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups cooked lentils
1 packet meatloaf seasoning (need to spice up a protein? I always have one of these bad boys on hand)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water

Directions:
Dice head of cabbage.
Add 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water to a saute pan and cook cabbage, diced tomatoes and onions on medium-high heat for 25 minutes. Cover with lid and stir occasionally.
While this is cooking, boil your brown rice and your lentils (this should take about 30 minutes).
Drain water from lentils and add meatloaf seasoning packet.
Add the rice and lentils to the cabbage mixture and stir thoroughly.
Remove from heat and enjoy!
Add a little salt and pepper if you feel the need.

8.23.2011

And while I prefer most of my baking to be of the cupcake-and-pie variety, every now and then it's kind of nice to throw some ingredients together in a casserole dish and call it dinner.

So one day when I was pregnant with Pearyn and not in the mood to cook or shop, I decided to empty the contents of my fridge into a glass, goose-covered baking dish (a hand-me-down from my mom). And oddly enough, Chubby Vegan Dad hasn't stopped requesting it.

A Bratty Bake

(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

3 Brats (we used Tofurky Italian sausages because their texture is kick-butt)

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 jar chipotle salsa

1/2 bag Daiya pepperjack cheese

1 container of Tofutti sour cream

1/2 container of Tofutti cream cheese

Directions:

Cook rice (generally one cup of uncooked rice will equate to two cooked)

Preheat oven to 375

Cut up three Tofurky sausages and mix with rice, cream cheese, sour cream, 1/4 cup bag of Daiya and salsa.

Pour into 9X9 baking dish and top with 1/4 bag Daiya (you'll use up half the bag for the entire recipe).

Bake for 30 minutes. (I always put it on broil for about 5 minutes to crisp up the top and melt the cheese).

Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, cut and eat the heck out of it!

Note: If children will be eating this, make sure you select a salsa which meets their tastes! (Our daughter is still a little bit iffy about spicy stuff, so chipotle is really our limit).

8.20.2011

Actually, for some students in the area it already is (if you happen to be a parent to one of those unlucky, already-back-at-school students, consider this a "Five Fabulous Friday Ways to pretend summer ISN'T over").

We've had an incredibly awesome summer in the T Household.

We spent Saturday mornings having coffee with female family members, went to weddings all over the place, saw fireworks in Missouri and made numerous trips to the pool and park.

So with our super busy summer winding down, we decided to compile a list of our Five Favorite Fabulous things we did over the last three months! While our road trip to visit family three states away was certainly worth it, it might not be plausible for everyone in this short amount of time, so we picked easy, must-do activities.

No. 1) Read a good book. It doesn't matter if it's Dr.Seuss, "The Babysitter's Club" or the Sookie Stackhouse novels, just read something. Not only is it super important to encourage your child to read, it's imperative that they see YOU doing it. So take the next few days to nestle down with your children and snuggle up to a good book.

No. 2) Get outside! Whether you're headed to the park, the pool or simply on a walk, take the next few days off to enjoy the outdoors with your child. Tired of the same old thing? Go on a nature walk! Most parks have awesome trails already marked off and you can go exploring with your child to find different bugs, leaves and flowers. Not only will you help them learn about the world around them, children who spend lots of time outdoors develop an appreciation for Mother Nature. Now that's something we DEFINITELY need!

No. 3) Go for a swim. Don't want to spend all day at a crowded pool? No problem! Just plop your little one in the sink. OK, I'm kidding. Pack up your suntan lotion, towels, snacks and other swimming essentials and make the trip to your local pool (whether you want to deal with the crowds or not). While you squeeze in some last-minute bonding time with your little one, you can rest assure that they'll tucker themselves out AND you'll get a tan in the process! Sounds like an OK way to spend the day to me!

No. 4) Wear some tie dye! It's bright, it's colorful and nothing says summer like tie dye. Don't want to spend the money for a super eco-friendly tie dye kit? Make your own natural dyes using things like avocado skins, carrot tops and blueberries! Search google for natural tie dye recipes to find out more. Don't want to deal with dye at all? A visit to your local thrift store is sure to turn up some cheap tie-dye deals.

No. 5) Sit down and have an AWESOME conversation. It doesn't matter if you're talking about the weather, the theory of relativity or vegan corn dogs. Just do it. Sit down with you spouse, child, family or friends and ask them how they're doing. Put away the cell phones, turn off the TVs, lap tops, radios and tablets. The key thing here is to talk without any interruption (especially of the technological variety).

8.18.2011

And trust me, it's going to be what's for dinner at your house right after you finish reading this recipe and buying all the ingredients.

Because it's that good.

It's actually better.

And FYI, it's SO simple even husbands can conquer this one! (Not to mention you can make it extra manly with things like vegan sausage and pepperoni). I should also mention that although my husband DID make these easy cheesy pies of deliciousness, he is actually incredibly skilled in the kitchen. Way more than me.

(Feel free to add whatever ingredients you want, the trick isn't what you add but WHEN you add it!)

Directions:

Combine flour, yeast and salt. Add warm water and olive oil, knead 2-3 minutes and form a ball. Place dough in a bowl on the oven with a towel on top and let sit for an 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.
Take four small bowls (we used glass, two-cup baking bowls that we got at Bed, Bath and Beyond for $6.99) and line them with an incredibly thin layer of olive oil.
Next, distribute the two bags of Daiya into the four bowls evenly (aka, 1/4th of each bag in each bowl). YES, the cheese does go on the bottom!
Take a cup and smash the cheese down in the middle.
Add a handful of quartered mushrooms.
Top the mushrooms with a layer of sausage.
Scoop marinara on top of all the ingredients (they should be just at the bowl rim or a little above).
Sprinkle some Italian seasoning on top.
Now, take that ball of pizza dough you had resting on the oven and split it into four even balls. Roll those out and place them on top of your delicious pizza stack. (The crust should fall over the side a bit).
Place the four bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes (until golden brown) and yummy looking, like this:

But that's not good enough. Using your oven-mitted hands (because these bad boys are going to be SUPER hot), pick up the bowl and turn it upside down on a plate (crust side down). Tap with a spoon to help the cheese unstick from the bowl, (this is why oil was crucial).

8.13.2011

After a mini Fab Five Friday hiatus, I'm happy to announce it's return.

Let's all take a minute to rejoice - hurray! Huzzah! Woo hoo!

As if I haven't plugged myself enough, I've decided to dedicate this Fab Five Friday list to the reasons anyone and EVERY one should take part in the Chubby Vegan Mom's first giveaway. Don't worry, I promise to return to my typical, non-promotional self next week!

So in case winning something completely and utterly free wasn't reason enough, here are Five Fabulous reasons to enter the Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook on a Friday (or any day for that matter)!

No. 1: It's FREE. Seriously, even if you have no interest in veganism, cooking or skinny bitches, how do you not have an interest in all things FREE. We're talking don't even have to pay for shipping free. It doesn't get much better than that!

No. 2: It's the FIRST giveaway. While I plan on doing a different one every month, why miss the FIRST chance out of 12? You have a better chance to win if you start entering from the beginning ... rather than the end.

No. 3: The recipes. Seriously, this book isn't just for vegans, it's for anyone who wants to bring some healthier recipes into their kitchen. And this isn't your run-of-the-mill, grass and granola health cookbook. We're talking some super delicious, super quick recipes. From lightened up french toast and crepes to curried pumpkin soup and kale and sweet potato pizza. Want to add something new AND healthier to your menu line-up? Give this book a whirl.

Pear is a pretty big fan of soup (especially with a grilled "cheese" on the side)

No. 4:You're doing this vegan mom a huge favor. Just give it a chance.I promise there's going to be a lot of issues we'll face as a vegan family, so you're going to want to be here to either help support us or watch us fall flat on our face, whichever. And it ALL starts by following the blog and winning something!

No. 5: It's kid tested, mother approved. You're right, this cookbook isn't a box of Kix, but it was a hit with Pearyn. Our bottomless pit enjoys the heck out of these recipes, some of her favorites include the pancakes, quinoa stuffed peppers and peach crisp. She actually loves this cookbook SO much that she falls asleep to it every night! It's so much fun that it wears her out!

Yes, I DID put this book in my daughter's crib while she was snoozing! She didn't even bat an eye!

Ready to win? OK! There are PLENTY of options!

Follow Chubby Vegan Mom using the "join" button on the right and then leave a comment detailing what you or your family is doing to eat healthier!

You can follow this blog using your Gmail, Yahoo, AIM or Twitter account (how easy is that)!

Already a follower? (Thank you!) You can win too! Become a follower of ChubbyVeganMom on Twitter and retweet this message: Enter to #win the #vegan Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook by @Kimbarnouin! Visit http://www.chubbyveganmom.com/2011/08/want-to-cook-like-skinny-bitch.html for details!

Already a Chubby Vegan Mom fanatic? Just leave a comment at the bottom of the post explaining what you or your family is doing to eat healthier!

A winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced Friday, August 26. Please make sure there is an email attached to your account so I can notify you to get possible shipping information!

8.08.2011

Let's be clear here.I'm willing to accept that there are going to be aspects of raising a vegan family that won't always fly with everyone else.But nutrition, just isn't one I'm willing to agree to.Once upon a time, that hamburger you just slathered in ketchup, covered in cheese and placed in between a bun, was a cow. A big ole, 1200-pound, living, breathing cow. And do you know what it ate to become its giant, more-than-1000-pound self?Grass. And more grass. And some straw, barley and a smidge of potatoes, beets and turnips.

Do you know what they don't eat?Hamburgers, chicken, fish or sausage. Oh and I'm pretty sure you won't find very many mature cows drinking from the teet anymore either.But, how is it possible? How, on Earth, do cows live without protein?Trust me, I'm in no way insinuating that cows and humans should be eating alike. I understand that cows are a different species and they digest, break down and burn nutrients and calories differently than a human being. I also get that they've got that whole four-stomach thing going on which allows them to eat things like grass and barley and use some of said stomachs to get protein out of seemingly protein-less items.So let's be clear again.I'm NOT promoting a diet of grass and barley for humans (although, the barley does have some pretty kick-butt nutritional benefits so you could include that in some of your meals if you wanted to get creative and ax the rice).But if a little old plant-eating animal can manage to put on 1000+ pounds, aren't you even willing to consider the idea that there are other healthy ways of getting protein as humans?In a perfect, animal-loving world, I would love it if everyone could afford, digest and strive to be vegan. But it's not a perfect, animal-loving world, so I'm willing to throw an olive branch out there and admit that there are healthy ways to get animal-based protein as well. (Ways that don't involve factory farming, nasty hormones and atrocious living conditions). So if my hardcore, plant-eating self can play nice, why can't the animal-eating people of the world do the same?Why can't we be friends?You quit taunting me about my tofu, bean and lentil, protein eating ways and I won't tell you the horror stories about where your three-month-old chicken with the body build of a three-year-old one came from. I won't club you over the head with my "milk and meat are the bane of our existence" rants, if you can manage to keep your "you've got to have milk and meat to live" pseudo-philosophy to yourself. I get it. Sometimes it seems like we vegans extend far more compassion to animals than fellow human beings. Perhaps, it even makes us seem like we're turning on our "own kind." And maybe, some of us are. I can tell you one thing, for sure, though. During the last four years of my vegan journey, I've found far more animals to be the victim of barbaric acts and unprovoked violence at the hand of humans than to Mother Nature herself.Take from that, whatever you will.

"I don't hold animals superior or even equal to humans. The whole case for behaving decently to animals rests on the fact that we are the superior species. We are the species uniquely capable of imagination, rationality and moral choice - and that is precisely why we are under an obligation to recognize and respect the rights of animals."
- Brigid Brophy

8.01.2011

To kick off the new site, I've decided a giveaway is in order! And what better item to give away on the Chubby Vegan Mom site than the "Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook."

Not familiar with the Skinny Bitch series? They're a super awesome line of books written which focus on the super positive nutritional aspects of a vegan diet. From what's hiding in your dairy to all those nasty meat fillers, this line of books tackles it all with a really fun, sorta sassy, female voice.

Written by Kim Barnouin, "Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook" was one of the first cookbooks my husband purchased for me post baby and as a family of three. The book contains tons of simple but scrumptious recipes (all which happen to be animal-free, yay!), not to mention a hoard of information regarding the process our food goes through to become edible (or in most cases, not very).

Not a vegan? No worries! This book is filled with such savory dishes, you won't even notices the meat missing! Give it a whirl, your arteries will thank you later!

Ready to win?

It's simple! Follow Chubby Vegan Mom using the "join" button on the right and then leave a comment detailing what you or your family is doing to eat healthier!

You can follow this blog using your Gmail, Yahoo, AIM or Twitter account (how easy is that)!

Already a follower? (Thank you!) You can win too! Become a follower of ChubbyVeganMom on Twitter and retweet this message: Enter to #win the #vegan Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook by @Kimbarnouin! Visit http://www.chubbyveganmom.com/2011/08/want-to-cook-like-skinny-bitch.html for details!

Already a follower but don't have Twitter (why not?), even YOU can win! Just leave a comment at the bottom of the post explaining what you or your family is doing to eat healthier!

A winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced Friday, August 26. Please make sure there is an email attached to your account so I can notify you to get possible shipping information. Or, leave your email in your comment if you don't have one associated to your account.

Something looks different right? Where are all the cute purple cupcakes and why are they no longer for Pearyn?

After six months of testing the waters with "Cupcakes for Pearyn," I decided it was time to give the blog a face lift (and a tummy tuck and heck, why not some botox too so we could iron out all those wrinkles). While both the cupcakes and Pearyn will continue to be underlying themes of this blog, they won't be the entirity.

Instead, we're going to focus on my adventures as not only a vegan and a mom, but a Chubby Vegan Mom.

Maybe you're not quite certain what a vegan is, no problem, feel free to peruse the Chubby Vegan FAQs list I've put together. Still unsure about something? No problem! Shoot me an email at amanda@chubbyveganmom.com and I'll make sure to address it.

Perhaps you want to know what is so special about being a vegan mom or what exactly makes me a chubby one? Feel free to familiarize yourself with A Mighty Chubby Disclaimer and get the low down on vegan stereotypes.

Or maybe you just want to see the pounds behind the Chubby Vegan Mom? For that I'd like to introduce you to My Chubby Vegan Clan, because I think we all know it's our crazy family that makes us put on the most weight (that or the cupcakes, whichever).

From time to time I'm going to challenge YOU to incorporate a little compassion into your menu. But don't worry, I won't send you off blind, I'll provide a map through the Bountiful Breakfasts, It's what's for dinner, Sneaky Sides and Desserts to Die for labels on the right hand side of the blog. They're simple and delicious recipes anyone can enjoy, whether your a hardcore meat-eater or full-fledged grass grazer.

Now that we've got that out of the way, feel free to browse the site and get to know everything else. Be on the lookout for a special entry soon with details on how you can win your own copy of the Skinny Bitch's Ultimate Everyday Cookbook.